Bishop Morlino: Redefining Marriage Has Domino Effect on Family (4078)

MADISON, Wis. — Bishop Robert Morlino of the Diocese of Madison, Wis., said he was “deeply saddened” by a federal ruling that Wisconsin law must recognize “gay marriage,” warning that it endangers the family as a fundamental basis of society.

Marriage between a man and a woman is “an element of the very first ‘domino’ of civilization,” the bishop said in a June 6 statement.

“When that first ‘domino’ falls, everything that is good, true and beautiful, which is rooted on the natural family, is seriously threatened.”

“There can be no question that the best formation for children is in the home of their biological mother and father, generally speaking, and we should always have a greater concern for future generations than we do for ourselves,” he said.

U.S. district Judge Barbara Crabb on June 6 ruled that a Wisconsin law defining marriage discriminates against same-sex couples.

The judge’s ruling struck down a referendum passed in 2006 by the majority of voters. The referendum defined civil marriage as a union of one man and one woman and said that legal statuses identical or similar to marriage would not be recognized in the state.

While media reports characterized the Wisconsin law as a “ban,” the law did not bar private ceremonies.

Wisconsin Attorney General J.B. Van Hollen said that the original law remains in force, and he will appeal the decision.

“While today’s decision is a setback, we'll continue to defend the constitutionality of our traditional marriage laws and the constitutional amendment, which was overwhelmingly approved by voters,” he said June 6.

Van Hollen filed an emergency stay against the decision June 9, although some county clerks have begun to issue marriage licenses to same-sex couples.

Bishop Morlino emphasized the fundamental role of marriage, saying, “Marriage is, and can only ever be, a unique relationship solely between one man and one woman, regardless of the decision of a judge or any vote.”

“In striking down the constitutional amendment in our state which protects marriage, the court has, once again, shaken one of the most precious and essential building blocks of our civilization,” he continued.

The bishop also stressed that Catholics must “respect, love and care for every individual we encounter, regardless of who they are, where they come from or how they define themselves.”

“For my own part, I will continue to speak strongly about the truth and beauty of marriage and encourage my brother priests and deacons and all the lay faithful to do the same,” Bishop Morlino said, calling for “fervent” prayers.

Comments

While at mass at the Divine Mercy Mission in New Braunfels, Tx last week, a couple (Jim and Lisa) were renewing their 25yr wedding anniversary vows! It was an amazing experience to say the least!! Father Moses followed a sacred tradition very popular in Europe where there hasn’t been 1 divorce reported!! If only we all followed this tradition! Amen @men I say to you! Enjoy!

As for the rest of your screed—gay marriage isn’t being “imposed” nor is it being supported by might, but by right.

You ignored the Ham family and you claim that an articulate and extremely bright son of two lesbians must have “severe mental issues” because he is an engineer.

I’ll agree you have mental issues, but I won’t paint all of you with the same brush.

In the meantime—I am out.

[comment edited]

Posted by Ted Seeber on Friday, Jun 13, 2014 9:38 AM (EDT):

@cminca- it shows that your “e pluribus unum” is a lie. Some of my relatives died so that your relatives could move in, and impose your federalism by the power of the gun and the army. Why should we leave when we were the ones INVADED?

And that’s no different from how gay marriage is being imposed today- by might, not by right. “e pluribus unum” is a joke, you don’t want the many, you want only the one- and that’s why I say that this is heterophobia.

As for Zach Wahls- well, I’m an engineer. And I’ve yet to meet an engineer in my career who *doesn’t* have severe mental issues. Including myself.

Posted by cminca on Thursday, Jun 12, 2014 11:58 PM (EDT):

@ curt

I’d invite you to toogle the Ham family in Phoenix Arizona and then Zach Wahls and see how your family and kids stack up.

Posted by Stuart Kenny on Thursday, Jun 12, 2014 11:58 PM (EDT):

Far from spin—I’m posting Catholic doctrine. Culpability plays a large part as to whether any specific action, even in grave matters, amounts to a mortal sin. I tend to favor judging the morality of an act using Ligouri’s consequentialism and probabalism which may not work for everyone, but which is a long-accepted way of doing moral theology in the Church.

I think free-market capitalism, as it is practiced in America, is a “killing economy,” as Cardinal Maradiaga says, or a “tyranny,” as the Pope says. Again—no spin, just following Catholic social teaching.

You might not like what I say about accepting gay civil marriage, but you’ll find others saying it during the upcoming Synod in October. Before he was Pope, Francis felt it might be possible to accept gay civil unions which did not masquerade as sacramental marriage. Many bishops feel the same. Many bishops disagree. But that’s why there’s going to be a debate.

Posted by Tom in AZ on Thursday, Jun 12, 2014 11:45 PM (EDT):

@just sayin’: You believe that homosexual couples have ANY children? Apparently you slept through Bio 101? One of the members of a homosexual couple can hire a surrogate and an egg donor (homosexual males), or a sperm donor (homosexual females), and then they have a child through the assistance of at least one THIRD PARTY, but homosexual couples do not, as couples (without third-party interference), have any children.
-
I keep asking this: is it really considered acceptable, in our society, to be genuinely unaware where babies come from? Because people keep saying things that imply that they really, really, honestly and truly, DON’T KNOW.

Posted by John on Thursday, Jun 12, 2014 8:27 PM (EDT):

Stuart Kenny you’re an obvious advocate for the sin of homosexual behavior. You’re also an intelligent master of spin, attempting to bring complexity to a very strait-forward issue. Your attempt to confuse your audience into submission, rather than using your God-given intelligence for good, is also a sin, my friend. I’m sorry for those who allow their arrogance to keep them separated from God; I’ll pray for you.

By the way, thanks for the flattery on my previous post; seems you have hatred for “capitalists” too. Mind you, I’m not judging you, but perhaps you should seek a spiritual advisor, preferably one without homosexual leanings.

Posted by curt lampkin on Thursday, Jun 12, 2014 7:30 PM (EDT):

There are two issues with gay marriage; the marriage itself and children adopted or awarded to such marriages. The child issue is far more important than the marriage issue. Evidence is accumulating that children of such marriages become gender confused at a far greater rate than that of the general population. A boy needs a father to learn to be a man. He cannot get this example in such marriages. Similarly for girls. Read the biographies of grown children of gay unions. The harm done to children in such unions is far more important than the make believe union itself.

Posted by cminca on Thursday, Jun 12, 2014 4:31 PM (EDT):

@ted—

I have no idea how the Lord’s prayer, in a Native American language, applies to what I wrote.

Let me be clear—your comment made the point that you thought ghetto Catholicism was better for Catholicism and incompatible with Democracy.

My point was that a Catholicism based on the notion that interaction with “the other” (and implying that “the other were inferior) was, and is, incompatible with Democracy in general and American Democracy in particular.

Our original national motto was e pluribus unum—out of many, one. If you feel “good” Catholicism is incompatible with that sentiment than you should leave.

Posted by Stuart Kenny on Thursday, Jun 12, 2014 12:59 PM (EDT):

Being a eunuch does not imply a vocation to singleness. Potiphar was a eunuch.

“The Christian theologian Clement of Alexandria provided a complementary perspective about the born eunuch, by way of quoting the Basilidian Christians with respect to the gospel verse about eunuchs (Stromata 3.1.1): Some men by birth have a nature to turn away from women, and those who are subject to this natural constitution do well not to marry. These, they say, are the eunuchs by birth.

In another context (Pedagogue 3.4.26), Clement himself warned Christian householders against entrusting their wives to eunuchs, because “even these are panders: they will neglect their duties and serve pleasure without suspicion, because of the common belief that they are not able to enjoy love. But the true eunuch is not the one not able, but the one not desiring to make love.” Note that as a Christian who despised all manner of effeminacy in men, Clement was not even considering homosexual sex here. When Clement said true eunuchs did not desire to make love, he obviously had in mind sex with women.”

From: The Ancient Roman and Talmudic Definition of Natural Eunuchs
Presented at a conference on Eunuchs in Antiquity and Beyond held at Cardiff University on July 27, 1999

Jesus opened the Kingdom of Heaven to eunuchs. Philip preached the gospel to eunuchs. Eunuchs were not seen as a threat to the family.

Posted by Ted Seeber on Thursday, Jun 12, 2014 11:49 AM (EDT):

My last post was considered too snarky- in response to cminca’s snark I posted the Lord’s Prayer in Chinook Wawa, and explained that some of my ancestors were learning Catholicism *before* Lewis and Clarke.

I was asked to re-offer the prayer, with translation, and since I’m short on time, I’m taking it from the excellent http://www.marysrosaries.com/Chinook_Wawa_prayers.html . Marysrosaries.com, for all your translation of the rosary into local languages needs (I’m impressed, they’ve got more languages there than I knew existed).

Nesika papa klaksta mitlite kopa saghalie
Our Father Who dwells on High

Kloshe kopa nesika tumtum mika nem.
Good for our hearts Your Name.

Kloshe mika tyee kopa konaway tillikum;
Good you Chief of all people;

Kloshe mika tumtum kopa illahee kahkwa kopa saghalie;
Good Your heart to make our country such as Yours up above;

Potlatch konaway sun nesika muckamuck,
Give us all days our food,

Pee kopet-kumtux donaway nesika mesachie,
And stop remembering all our sins we make to them,

Stuart Kenny- then let the eunuchs stay eunuchs- being single is a vocation too.

Posted by Stuart Kenny on Wednesday, Jun 11, 2014 8:46 PM (EDT):

However, although we can judge that an act is in itself a grave offense, we must entrust judgment of persons to the justice and mercy of God. CCC1861

To form an equitable judgment about the subjects’ moral responsibility and to guide pastoral action, one must take into account the affective immaturity, force of acquired habit, conditions of anxiety or other psychological or social factors that lessen, if not even reduce to a minimum, moral culpability.
CCC2352

Lacking freedom, such a person, even if engaged in homosexual activity, would not be culpable. Here, the Church’s wise moral tradition is necessary since it warns against generalizations in judging individual cases. In fact, circumstances may exist, or may have existed in the past, which would reduce or remove the culpability of the individual in a given instance; or other circumstances may increase it.

On the Pastoral Care of Homosexual Persons (Pope Benedict)

If someone is gay and he searches for the Lord and has good will, who am I to judge?

Pope Francis

Judge not, lest ye be judged. Blessed are the merciful. Some are born eunuchs. This teaching (about marriage) is not for everyone.

Jesus

Anne said*:

No MORTAL SIN (such as slander) should ever be tolerated.
One mortal sin (such as malicious gossip) is not better than another mortal sin.
All mortal sins (including lack of compassion) will send unrepentant Souls to Hell for eternity.
We should never set an example of any mortal sin (including heartlessness) for any child.
.
Read the “Catechism of the Catholic Church, Second Edition”.
The CCC contains the Doctrine of the Faith that all Catholics are required to adhere to in entirety (except the parts about greed and hate and slander and the death penalty and torture and just wages and amnesty for undocumented workers and health care and paying taxes, etc.).

*annotated

Posted by cminca on Wednesday, Jun 11, 2014 5:20 PM (EDT):

@steady state

“Oh there’s no doubt at this point that the Bishop’s freedom of speech and freedom of religion will someday be outlawed by popular vote or judicial decision. You’ll be lending your vote and cheering them on, cminca.”

You are 100% wrong. I have absolutely no problem with what you think or say. I have a problem with anyone who would try and vote equal rights away from any other tax paying, law abiding citizens. I have a problem with civil rights being denied based on religious prejudice. I have a problem with lies being told in order to support injustice.

(Just so we are clear on the last—NOT ONE Catholic adoption agency has been closed by a state based on a requirement to allow SS couples to adopt. NOT ONE. Each one of those agencies was fully able to continue operation—they were not, however, entitled to tax dollars. Had the CC paid the operating costs, or had they been raised by donation, there would have been no problem. So—just so we are clear—any time you hear that a state has “forced” the closure of an adoption agency because of the agency refusing to give children to SS couples—know that that is a LIE.)

Personally I’d like to see the European model where the state has a civil union ceremony, at a court house, that EVERYONE must go through to have the state recognize the union. If a religious ceremony is wanted—that is performed at a different location by a different officiant.

It would allow for a complete separation of the two ceremonies, and since everyone would have a civil union, everyone would be equal in the eyes of the law.

So that is my position…..

Posted by cminca on Wednesday, Jun 11, 2014 5:11 PM (EDT):

@Ted—“Democracy is incompatible with Catholicism.”

I couldn’t agree with you more. Why don’t you all pack up and leave?

Posted by mrscracker on Wednesday, Jun 11, 2014 5:01 PM (EDT):

Posted by cminca on Tuesday, Jun 10, 2014 8:54 PM (EDT):
In a democratic republic we should condemn—loudly—any time someone suggests that it is appropriate for some members of the public to vote on the availability of civil rights to some other members of the public.

Otherwise, Bishop, you better get ready for the day when the public wants to vote on YOUR civil rights.”
**************************************
Where are the civil rights for Muslims & others who practise polygamy?

Posted by ANNE on Wednesday, Jun 11, 2014 5:00 PM (EDT):

@just sayin, MORTAL SINS are mortal sins. It has nothing to do with any of them being “socially acceptable”.
Christians, Jews and other Faiths believe in Heaven, Hell and eternity.
Our own actions will determine our eternity.
Jesus himself was very clear on this.
_________________

Posted by Ted Seeber on Wednesday, Jun 11, 2014 4:41 PM (EDT):

“If heterosexual marriage were banned tomorrow, do you think that there would be less children born to heterosexuals? “

No, but there would certainly be fewer children raised to be functional adults.

Posted by Ted Seeber on Wednesday, Jun 11, 2014 12:05 PM (EDT):

cminca- I would applaud the day that by democratic vote, Catholics were once again restricted to minority status- as we once were. Arguably, the ghetto experience of the 1890s-1950s produced one of the strongest subcultures of Catholicism the world has ever seen; and I have no doubt many of today’s politicians that claim to be Catholic would finally show their colors and vote against the Church.

Democracy is incompatible with Catholicism.

Posted by Bill Sr. on Wednesday, Jun 11, 2014 11:24 AM (EDT):

There is equal justice and there is Divine Justice.
The path our courts have chosen to follow in the name of equality of justice for those who are using their thirst for unbridled passions to rant and wail away at the laws of nature and God with pathetic pleas for false compassion to the morality of Christian values which have established the very foundations for western civilization is taking us not to new heights of freedom for our people but rather to the abyss of debauchery where every imaginable form of depravity man has known to fall victim to will soon become common place among us. We already have triple female marriages using IVF to impregnate one of the women in order for the “family” to have children. So what is wrong with two men and a woman or two doing their thing? Polygamy will have to be accepted as a normal family form across the nation. If you think this is far fetched now, where were you fifty years ago when same sex marriage was unthinkable and marriage and family was still and for centuries solidified in one man one woman?
The temptation to break the bonds of human reality in an effort to deny or change the very laws of nature we were created for and designed to maintain in the name of our Creator will only result in the most just and severe penalties due rejecting those bonds and reality in the name of Divine Justice.

Posted by mrscracker on Wednesday, Jun 11, 2014 10:58 AM (EDT):

Posted by Ted Seeber on Tuesday, Jun 10, 2014 1:12 PM (EDT):

FIRST domino? No, that was contraception.”
****************
Exactly.

Posted by Patricia on Wednesday, Jun 11, 2014 10:32 AM (EDT):

I will pray that our amendment here in Wisconsin will continue to be law. I pray that same sex marriage will not be allowed here in Wisconsin.

Thank you Bishop Morlino for your explanation of the situation and for asking for our prayers.

Posted by ANNE on Wednesday, Jun 11, 2014 9:06 AM (EDT):

No MORTAL SIN should ever be tolerated.
One mortal sin is not better than another mortal sin.
All mortal sins will send unrepentant Souls to Hell for eternity.
We should never set an example of any mortal sin for any child.
.
Read the “Catechism of the Catholic Church, Second Edition”.
The CCC contains the Doctrine of the Faith that all Catholics are required to adhere to in entirety.
______________

Posted by just sayin' on Wednesday, Jun 11, 2014 8:28 AM (EDT):

It is unclear to me why anybody thinks that by not allowing same sex marriage, more children are going to be raised by biological parents. These people are still going to have children, just as heterosexuals continue to have large numbers of children out of wedlock. Marriage in general is on decline. The tie between marriage and children was broken long ago, and there is no longer any social stigma for having children outside of wedlock. If heterosexual marriage were banned tomorrow, do you think that there would be less children born to heterosexuals? I doubt it. People will have children, marriage or not. I find this argument against same sex marriage weak at best.

Posted by Steady State on Wednesday, Jun 11, 2014 12:28 AM (EDT):

Oh there’s no doubt at this point that the Bishop’s freedom of speech and freedom of religion will someday be outlawed by popular vote or judicial decision. You’ll be lending your vote and cheering them on, cminca.

Posted by Patrick on Wednesday, Jun 11, 2014 12:17 AM (EDT):

I think, ironically, that a lot of the problem comes from the fact that American culture virtually denies the existence of any vocation BUT marriage.

People with these desires need a vocation, but the only one they’re ever taught about isn’t the one meant for them, so they feel left out.

In fact, anyone who’s vocation involves single, lay life is looked at with suspicion and doubt. Even people seeking Holy Orders are often treated as if they’re running from “real life” because they didn’t think they could handle it or something.

Gay people are fighting so hard for marriage because it’s the only vocation they know and the only one treated with respect in our society.
They know they need a vocation, and it’s the only one they’ve been presented with, but then it’s callously slapped out of their hands as soon as they start thinking it’s really what’s for them.
The problem is they aren’t given enough guidance before they reach the incorrect conclusion society is foisting on them.

Posted by Ellen gaffney on Wednesday, Jun 11, 2014 12:11 AM (EDT):

“Anything that goes against the Deposit of Faith is not from God” We need more Clergy like Bishop Morlino in our church today - he has been persecuted by the LIBERAL PRESS unjustly - Back in 1951 the Franciscan Sister who taught us a Mini Journalism class told us to always question what we read in the Press - that the Communists told us they would get us through the press - Thank God for the Catholic Register, and EWTN, and as Pope Francis tells us - hang on to HOPE

Posted by Stuart Kenny on Tuesday, Jun 10, 2014 11:16 PM (EDT):

Frankly I’m tired of capitalists looking for affirmation of their despicable and Christ-less life choices. The corporate agenda has been attempting a takeover of the government for many years to accomplish their Mammon-worshipping goals. I am sorry to inform them, they will never find satisfaction from God for greed and corruption, regardless of any governmental or single-handed power-grab of the judicial system by a morally bankrupt leader like Rand Paul.

Capitalists will always know, deep in their souls, a dissatisfaction from their greed. God has made it so, because He is always calling us back to Himself, to give all we have to the poor and store our treasures up in heaven where moths or rust can’t destroy, always willing to forgive and reconcile the sin. And so my free-market neighbors, try to stop separating yourselves from God, rather, spend your energy today re-establishing your connection to Him by reaching out to the least among us. . .time is running out.

And thank you Pope Francis for taking a stand during these troubled times.

But who am I to judge? :)

Posted by cminca on Tuesday, Jun 10, 2014 8:54 PM (EDT):

“....we’ll continue to defend the constitutionality of our traditional marriage laws and the constitutional amendment, which was overwhelmingly approved by voters,” he said June 6.”

In a democratic republic we should condemn—loudly—any time someone suggests that it is appropriate for some members of the public to vote on the availability of civil rights to some other members of the public.

Otherwise, Bishop, you better get ready for the day when the public wants to vote on YOUR civil rights.

Posted by John on Tuesday, Jun 10, 2014 7:54 PM (EDT):

Frankly I’m tired of homosexuals looking for affirmation of their despicable and Christ-less life choices. The homosexual agenda has been attempting a takeover of the courts for many years to accomplish their goals. I am sorry to inform them, they will never find satisfaction from God for moral depravity, regardless of any governmental or single-handed power-grab of the judicial system by a morally bankrupt judge named Crabb.

Homosexuals will always know, deep in their souls, a dissatisfaction from their same-sex intrigues. God has made it so, because He is always calling us back to Himself, always willing to forgive and reconcile the sin. And so my homosexual neighbors, try to stop separating yourselves from God, rather, spend your energy today re-establishing your connection to Him…time is running out.

And thank you Bishop Morlino for taking a stand during these troubled times.

Posted by Ted Seeber on Tuesday, Jun 10, 2014 7:19 PM (EDT):

Josephine: http://www.fathersforgood.org/ - The Knights have put in a lot more money trying to maintain good families than they have fighting bad ones.

Posted by Terah on Tuesday, Jun 10, 2014 7:10 PM (EDT):

Good for the bishop, for having the courage to speak out. All the other bishops should do the same, especially with their June meetings happening.
They should all be on the same page, and (since they claim to represent the apostles) they should teach and preach God-honoring values to the people in their dioceses. Morals ought not be a matter of preference. It is too important and our society has much to lose, taking it casually.

There is a new book just released entitled “Making Gay Okay” about how societies rationalize the behavior, and how timeless wisdom (like writings by Aristotle and Plato’s dialogs) disapproved of same sex sexual relationships.

It is a common sense book, and greatly recommended. The bishops, the Catholic faithful and other God-honoring Christians and Orthodox Jews, should read it.

Posted by Stuart Kenny on Tuesday, Jun 10, 2014 4:44 PM (EDT):

I don’t think gay civil marriage is a threat to the family any more than Lutheran “ordination” is a threat to the priesthood, Baptist “Lord’s Supper” is a threat to the Eucharist, or the Koran is a threat to Sacred Scripture. I respect all of the above, but my Church clearly teaches they are not sacraments or sacramental.

I think two consenting adults in a democracy have the right to a civil marriage. I can respect the love and commitment I see in such a couple without believing it’s a sacramental marriage. I’m sure many of us have called a Luther pastor “Father” or respectfully sat at a Baptist communion service, or even kissed the Koran as JPII did, without relinquishing our faith.

If we truly believe that marriage is an indissoluble union between a man and a woman where each and every sexual act is open to procreation, then we need to walk the talk. It is our job to set the example. If our own marriage or single life does not live up to our Church’s teaching, then we can’t really blame secular society for making choices which seem to work for them.

Posted by Thomas on Tuesday, Jun 10, 2014 4:12 PM (EDT):

I am not “deeply saddened” and I am not surprised; I am deeply concerned and angry at the total absence of Teaching in regard the widespread use of contraceptives within marriage. Homosexuals are only demanding what heterosexuals have already been doing! And there are practically NO HOMILIES on this!

Posted by Josephine Boone on Tuesday, Jun 10, 2014 3:32 PM (EDT):

The Bishop contends that “There can be no question that the best formation for children is in the home of their biological mother and father”. On reading this I think he might follow up with the following two actions. 1) Spend more time advocating counseling services and other social initiatives to repair troubled marriages to prevent separation of those who are parents of children. We hear very little about this subject. The Catholic Church and the Knights of Columbus spent many millions in a failed effort to prevent civil marriage rights for homosexuals. A real tragedy that they did not invest instead in financial and psychological counseling services for troubled parents. 2) Change his language so that it does appear to be a reminder to those who form their families by adoption of unwanted children that they are not the “the best”. Finally if the Bishop truly believes that Catholics should “respect, love and care for every individual we encounter, regardless of who they are, where they come from or how they define themselves” then he should cease blaming homosexuals for the failing of heterosexual unions. The court ruling in Wisconsin did not “endanger the family as a fundamental basis of society”. Rather it allowed homosexuals to be treated with respect, love and care.

Posted by Kevin Rahe on Tuesday, Jun 10, 2014 3:11 PM (EDT):

So does the fact that some people receive food stamps from the government unfairly discriminate against those who don’t? Am I a “second-class citizen” because I do not live in the circumstances that the government has determined warrant giving me food benefits, at taxpayer expense? Or would the judges deciding cases regarding state benefits for same-sex “marriages” be as duplicitous as those deciding anti-discrimination cases regarding wedding vendors blatantly are?

It is a poverty of reason to conclude that recognizing that relationships between men and women tend to have an impact on the rest of society that no other kind of relationship can possibly have - which warrants society promoting commitment between such couples and regulating their unions - is unreasonable and/or unfair.

Posted by Ted Seeber on Tuesday, Jun 10, 2014 1:12 PM (EDT):

FIRST domino? No, that was contraception. Quickly followed by the dominos of no fault divorce, abortion, cohabitation, and single parenthood. It’s not even the last domino- it will be followed by polygamy, pedophilia, and it will get much stranger before the dominos stop falling.

And in keeping with the ironic Register Catcha- married92

Posted by jcc on Tuesday, Jun 10, 2014 12:20 PM (EDT):

I think the judge is right. I also think that if I want to be a dog, my rights should not be infringed upon. Of course, as a dog, I will not be paying taxes, cuz dogs don’t pay tax on what they get paid….food water shelter, Dr. care, frisbees, etc.

Posted by Fr. Andy, OP on Tuesday, Jun 10, 2014 11:51 AM (EDT):

Judicial activism along with the rejection of the undeniable value of the natural human family have led us to the edge of the cliff as a just and good society. This is not about hate, it is about future generations known as our children. Setting aside children as normal realities in traditional marriages and replacing that truth with the affectional desires of adults leads us to disastrous ends. As has been stated time and again, the government cannot survive without families, but families can survive without government. So when the government attacks that which it derives its power, the end of that government and/or society cannot be far behind.

And, of course, the persecution of those who hold to traditional marriage will naturally follow, unless the silent majority of this cowardly nation take a stand! Enough!

Posted by Nancy D. on Tuesday, Jun 10, 2014 11:15 AM (EDT):

The problem with redefining the very essence of marriage is that once you make the erroneous claim that in order to be married, it is no longer necessary to exist in relationship as husband and wife, you have, in essence, invalidated the validity of a valid marriage. What the court has done discriminates against the very essence of marriage, existing in relationship as husband and wife, for every relationship can now be defined as a marriage if one so desires.

Posted by Matt K on Tuesday, Jun 10, 2014 10:51 AM (EDT):

i dont see how allowing same sex marriage will destroy marriage. i think the bigger threat to marriage is divorce and infidelity and the church doesnt seem to stand up as much against those two issues. the fact that a gay couple wants to join in marriage and the vows involved in that relationship can only strengthen marriage. There are many children who have same sex parrents. wouldnt those children do better if their parents had a legal marriage?

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